Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Epidemiological Profile of Anemia Among Adults in a University Referral Hospital, Eastern Morocco

TL;DR

This study finds that nearly a third of hospitalized adults in Morocco have anemia, with older patients and certain hospital departments showing higher rates.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed epidemiological profile of anemia among hospitalized adults in eastern Morocco.

Findings

Anemia prevalence was 30.3% among hospitalized adults, with higher rates in those aged 50 and older.

Normocytic normochromic anemia was the most common type observed.

Anemia was significantly associated with age, hospital department, comorbidities, and diagnosis at admission.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Anemia is a significant global public health problem that may signal a serious underlying health condition. However, its epidemiological profile among Moroccan adults of both sexes remains poorly documented. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors, and to identify the profiles of observed anemia among hospitalized patients at the University Hospital Mohammed VI of Oujda. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among adult inpatients (≥18 years) admitted between February 2024 and April 2025. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires and hospital records. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21, applying the Mann–Whitney U test for quantitative variables and the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Results: A total of 446 adult patients were included in the study. The overall prevalence of anemia was 30.3%, affecting 31.9% of men and 28.4% of women. The highest prevalence (45.3%) was observed among participants aged 50 years and older. The services with the highest rates were the thoracic surgery, pneumology, and burns and reconstructive surgery departments. Significant associations with anemia were identified for age group (p = 0.004), hospital department (p = 0.028), presence of medical comorbidities (p < 0.001), and type of diagnosis at admission (p = 0.019). The predominant forms of anemia were mild anemia (62.2%), and normocytic normochromic anemia was the most frequent morphological type (55.6%). Conclusions: Anemia is a frequent comorbidity among hospitalized adults. Systematic screening upon admission and appropriate management during hospitalization are essential to reduce anemia-related complications and improve patient outcomes.

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